Letter: Beware of classical education’ theme of charter school

Regarding the March 26 Daily Messenger article, “Charter school forum draws large crowd":

Donna Bennett would have us believe that the charter school she wishes us to pay for is an innocent attempt to return to what she refers to as “classical” education. Those wishing to know what is really behind her push should visit the Hillsdale College website and investigate the organization that provides the philosophical foundations behind the Finger Lakes Classical Charter School concept. Listen to some of their seminar speakers to see where the heart of this proposal really lies — an attempt to indoctrinate children with a reactionary socio-political and cultural worldview.

Of course public education has problems and could use improvement. And if Ms. Bennett wishes to propagandize the young with her ultra-conservative views, she is free to raise money to create a private school for that purpose or encourage homeschooling. But we should be very careful of this stealth attempt to have the general taxpaying public subsidize a program that is informed through and through with right wing socio-political ideas and values, slanted version of reality and culturally reactionary bias disguised and pawned off as “classical” education